Rickenbacker Romanisms

profjeff · Post by **profjeff** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 1:50 pm

Hey Folks:

I mentioned that I visited Ed Roman’s shop in Las Vegas recently. I bought some control knobs, but I refrained from purchasing anything expensive. I found the following on his website related to Rickenbacker guitars. Do you folks agree with any of these, or is this guy just out to lunch? The following are direct quotes from Ed's site http://www.edromanguitars.com/index.htm

(1) Part of Rickenbacker's distinctive tone is their beautifully finished nitrocellulose guitars.

(2) It has been our experience in the past that Rickenbacker will eliminate production of any item that we offer for sale separately. For example, we used to be able to get enough toaster pickups to go around, but now Rickenbacker has severely limited production and we cannot get enough of them.

(3) On the 650 Dakota: The modifications on the guitar as performed above by Guitar Tech Jim Van Campen are all excellent improvements. In my opinion the only one that is absolutely necessary is the slimming of the neck. The only real fault that the guitar has is the neck is too big. As long as you need to slim the neck you might as well remove the stupid looking heel from hell, It protrudes way too far from the body.

(4) Professional Removal of Gloss Finish From Fretboard:

This modification will appeal to players who actually use their Rickenbackers. The typical Rickenbacker owner will want no part of this mod. A studio player who is called on to recreate those classic early 60's sounds will find the fretboard mod an invaluable aid to their playing style.

Coupled with the 12 String bridge mod which is absolutely necessary this mod will make you a faster and smoother player.

(5) Rickenbacker Vintage Pickups:

I am now stocking the Rickenbacker line of Vintage Pickups. I believe that original vintage pickups are usually not very good. In fact I think that people who go out and pay $500.00 or more dollars for old Vintage Gibson PAF Pickups are nuts.

(6) Rickenbacker Cases:

Rickenbacker Guitars all come with cases included in the list price. However the case is definitely not on my list of recommended products. It appears to be an SKB type case that is about twice as good as the cases Fender supplies with their supposed USA models. Even though it's twice as good as a Fender USA case it still does not measure up to my standards. (Fender does supply a Tweed case on their custom shop and very high end models)

For some unknown reason people seem to think that a plastic case is stronger than a wood case. NOT !!! In fact there are numerous reasons why a wood case is better.

saturn · Post by **saturn** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:22 pm

gloss finish on the frets; some people just don't like this. personal preference.

tweed cases are better.. they breathe. plastic does not.

however... ed roman is nuts! he never replied to my questions.

billikenn · Post by **billikenn** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:47 pm

I for one can contend #3

the Van Campren mod is rediculus.
As I found out from personal experience
either Ed's lutiers cut into a deformed Dakota (voiding the warranty) or removing the heel threw the neck out of wack.
was probably problems with removing the heel (conclusion from severity of backbow and twist)

after Ed refused any and all responsibility for the guitar it cost me an additional $100 to have the neck heat/steam treated. then I played it for a year as it was, and just this past weekend I had a refret done - so that the fretbaord could be leveled, that cost $200
neglecting the fact that Ed charged me $200 to destroy the neck in the first place
so my budget guitar was very expensive.
and that doesnt mention all the trouble I had with the custom electronics Eds guys did.

I look forward to the day Ed meets his maker, cuz I garuntee his afterlife will not be pleasent.

Oh yeah, if anyone needs a competent lutier that does excellent fret/neck repair work in the NE ohio area checkout www.laysguitar.com
It is a humble looking shop, but Ill take that over Eds fancy shop anyday - now that I know at least I will...

JP

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:18 am

1 - I have a 4003s5 that is refinished in tung oil ... it sounds great ... in fact it is one of my best sounding ric basses ...

2 - Ed is whining ... I can get a toaster any time I want ...

3 - Try playing a strat, tele, or les paul ... they all have bigger heels and nobody complains ...

4 - is he like kidding or something? I love the glossy fret boards on my Ric basses ...

5 - hey pickups are a personal choice ... has Ed ever played in a band or done a session as a studio player?

6 - I like the wood cases better ... but the plastic ric cases are pretty good ...

let me put it this way ... I am glad he stocks and sells Rickenbackers ... and what I think about Rickenbackers is not really based on what I hear in music stores ...

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:40 am

I have had a couple of experiences with Ed...personally..I dealt with him on the phone on a couple of Ric models. I talked to him twice and each time he changed the price of the guitar(s). I wasn't sure if I was working with a dealer or a stock broker. I found North Coast better to deal with on new models. Ed does carry a lot of models but....well, he's in Las Vegas. It fits.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:00 am

I posted this in an earlier thread:

A RIC dealer should know what model the Pete Townshend is! Personally, when a person makes an error of this magnitude, his/her credibility goes down the tube.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:52 am

That 461 is kewl.

(hee hee)

chronictown · Post by **chronictown** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:07 pm

One good thing he DID provide for us was this nifty photo:

I keep it on my computer's desktop. I drool.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:43 am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a Rick finished with "conversion varnish" not nitrocellulose?

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:56 am

I think you are right, Ken. The factory finish has been discussed in earlier threads, if memory serves me right.

RutleDirk · Post by **RutleDirk** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:28 pm

Although ER may not have all of his facts exactly right, and tends to be arrogant and insulting in his delivery, I believe that most of his statements are based on valid opinions.

I agree strongly only with the point about the cases. I think ER's comparison between Ric and Fender SKB cases is spot-on. They just can't take a bump like a good case should be able to, and the manufacturing process seems somewhat inconsistent. I set the case from my first 4003 down a bit hard once--can't really say, "dropped it"--and one of the feet broke right through. My SKB Tele case has suffered the same fate. I have another 4003 case that has the handle in the wrong place, as though the case were facing the wrong way when the handle was attached. Makes it awfully butt-heavy. All of my SKB cases are warping or cracking, some to an extent that makes them difficult to latch.

I must say, though, that I never would have guessed that the "typical Rickenbacker owner" doesn't actually play his/her Rics! Now I'm really curious; what DO all of you do with yours? Wall hanging? Weathervane? Prop for the floppy hatch on your car, while you're unloading your other gear?

Sorry.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:31 am

there are some Ric owners who are more collectors than players ...

Also it is not just ER ... most music stores have a BS quality to them ... there is a young kid I know about 19 to 21 range ... he was bragging about his first good job ... he works at Guitar center ... he admits a real lack of knowledge about products ... but he loves working there ... he told me that GC doesn't carry Rickenbackers ... so I told him the corporation does but the corporation does not allocate them to his store ...

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:50 am

I've found that the newer, lighter 4004L's are MUCH easier to "El Kabong" with....the 4001/3's are WAY too heavy for that....oh yeah, they ARE easier on the shoulder while actually PLAYING them too....

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:18 am

All 3 of my Ric basses gig, an average of 12 times a month. Even the CS, and it's got the missing chrome from one of the horseshoes to prove it. My 340 stays at home 'cause no one wants to hear me play guitar, ha!
And, all have silver or black tolex-covered cases.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:24 pm

yep all of my Ric basses see gig duty ... except I have retired my '68 ...